'Join army, get US citizenship' finds no takers

WASHINGTON: Chinese nationals in the United States are not enthused by a pilot plan that offers US citizenship to skilled immigrants if they sign up for the US military.

The US plans to deploy 30,000 additional troops in Afghanistan by next summer, doubling its military presence in the country. The Pentagon has difficulties in enlisting doctors, specialized nurses, and language experts. The US military expects immigrants will help fill this manpower vacuum.

The New York Times reported that the US military hopes to enlist 1,000 skilled immigrants, who have been in the US for at least two years on a temporary visa, in the first year of the pilot program.